What are the categories in archery?
I · Intermediate · Divisions, the field, officials and conduct · 6 of 6A division is the type of bow: recurve, compound or barebow. A class is the archer's sex and age group. Adults shoot recurve at 70 metres and compound and barebow at 50, with shorter distances for the youngest and oldest classes. Indoors everyone shoots at 18 metres.
How it works
Classes: under 15, under 18, under 21, 50+ and the open women's and men's classes. An archer is under 15 up to and in the year of their 14th birthday, under 18 up to the year of their 17th and under 21 up to the year of their 20th. The 50+ class starts in the year of the 50th birthday.
| Division | Open, U21 | U18 and 50+ | U15 | Face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recurve | 70 m | 60 m | 40 m | 122 cm |
| Compound | 50 m | 50 m | 40 m | 80 cm |
| Barebow | 50 m | 50 m | 30 m | 122 cm |
| Any, indoors | 18 m | 18 m | 18 m | 40 cm |
- Men and women shoot the same distances.
- World Archery's other disciplines include field, 3D, clout, flight, ski, run and para archery, each with its own rules.
Tricky cases
Do women shoot a shorter distance than men?
No. The distances are set by division and age class, not by sex.
Is compound an Olympic event?
It depends on the Games. Book 2 of the rules says the recurve and compound divisions may compete at the Olympic Games. Which events are on a given Games' programme is decided by the IOC and is not in the rule book.
Why the rule exists
Separate divisions let very different bows each have a fair contest, and age classes let young archers compete at distances their bows can reach.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Archery rules | As above | B2 4.1 to 4.5.1 |
| Olympic programme | Set by the IOC | Not covered |
From the rule book
World Archery Rulebook, Book 2, Articles 4.1 to 4.5.1. Version of 27 January 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Archery Rulebook (PDF).